Rohingya Muslims a Threat to National Security: Centre Affidavit in SC

Posted Date : Monday 18/09/2017

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New Delhi, Sept 18: The Centre on Monday filed a strongly-worded affidavit in the Supreme Court over the influx of Rohingya Muslims into the country. The Centre called the continuous inflow of Rohingyas a ‘threat’ to national security, adding that many of them may be linked to terror groups in Pakistan. Centre also said that some of the Rohingyas were also indulged in anti-national and illegal activities.

“As far as Rohingyas are concerned, they claimed to have entered from Myanmar using porous border between India and Myanmar. The total number of such illegal immigrants into our country would be more than 40,000 approximately as on date,” the affidavit says.

Centre even added that terror groups like ISIS may influence the Rohingyas. It said that Rohingya militant groups were active in Delhi, Jammu, Hyderabad and Mewat, adding that it was important to send them back.

It adds, “Continuance of Rohingyas’ illegal immigration into India and continued stay has serious national security ramifications and threats. Centre has contemporaneous from security agencies inputs indicating links of some unauthorized Rohingyas with Pakistan terror organisations. Some Rohingyas are indulging in illegal/anti-national activities i.e. mobilisation of funds through hundi/hawala channels, procuring fake Indian identities for other Rohingyas and also indulging in human trafficking.”

Earlier in the day, Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju asked the International Human Rights Commissions to not spread false information against India on Rohingya Muslims matter. “It (Rohingya issue) is a sensitive matter. Whatever the Government of India does, it will be in the nation’s interest. I would like to request the International Human Rights Committee and Commissions to not spread anything wrong against India,” Rijiju said.

Rijiju’s comments came after the United Nations Human Rights Commission slammed India on its decision to deport Rohingyas. The UNHRC had said, “I deplore current measures in India to deport Rohingyas at a time of such violence against them in their country. Some 40,000 Rohingyas have settled in India, and 16,000 of them have received refugee documentation. The Minister of State for Home Affairs has reportedly said that because India is not a signatory to the Refugee Convention the country can dispense with international law on the matter, together with basic human compassion.”

The government has also asked the court to decline interference in the matter. “Court may decline interference, leaving to Centre to exercise essential executive function by way of policy decision,” the affidavit says. The Supreme Court will now hear the matter on October 3 at 2 pm.